Rift in Uddhav Thackeray faction intensifies… 6 MPs away from parliamentary party meeting, claim to form separate faction

Tezzbuzz Desk- Internal tension in the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction has once again come to the fore. Only three MPs were present in the emergency meeting of the Parliamentary Party called at the Parliament House on Thursday, while six MPs stayed away from the meeting. After this development, speculations of a split in the party have intensified.

Only Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Raja Waje attended the meeting. Whereas, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchore and Sanjay Jadhav remained absent. Sources claim that these six MPs have formed a separate parliamentary group and the letter related to this has been handed over to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The party leadership had issued a three-line whip before the meeting and personal presence of MPs was made mandatory. Shiv Sena (UBT) says that strict action will be taken against those who violate the whip.

Arvind Sawant made it clear that action against MPs breaking discipline will be decided after discussion with party chief Uddhav Thackeray. At the same time, Sanjay Raut took a tough stand towards the rebel MPs and said that it is necessary to teach them a lesson.

Amidst this entire incident, the discussion regarding the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) has also intensified. According to experts, the provision of whip mainly applies to the legislative proceedings of the House, while its validity on internal meetings of the party is considered limited. On this basis, it is also being argued that the issue of whip violation can become a subject of legal dispute.

According to sources, the claim of rebel MPs to form a separate group has increased the stir in political circles. Considering this as indiscipline, the party leadership is indicating strict action, while the eyes of opposition parties and political analysts are now fixed on the next step of this entire incident.